Registration to Provide Testimony at Upcoming Lawrence Downs Casino and Racing Resort Public Hearing to Close May 6th

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is reminding citizens, community group leaders and public officials that the deadline to register to speak at the May 8, 2014 public input hearing regarding a casino license for the proposed Lawrence Downs Casino and Racing Resort is noon on May 6^th. 

To date, 34 individuals have registered to speak at the hearing that will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Mahoning Township Community Center, 4512 West State Street in Hillsville.  A complete list of those who have registered to speak will be posted to the Board's web site on Thursday, May 1st.

Those wishing to still register prior to the public input hearing should visit the Board's website, www.gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov, and click the "Lawrence Downs Casino Public Input Registration" link under the QuickLinks section of the home page.

In lieu of speaking at the hearing, anyone can also submit written comments on the matter  in three ways:

1. through the same web site link;

2. via fax to 717-346-8350; or

3. by mail to the PA Gaming Control Board, P.O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA 17106, Attention: Board Secretary.

The purpose of the hearing is to provide a forum for individuals to voice their support or opposition to the application by Endeka Entertainment, L.P.  to obtain a Category 1 (racetrack) casino license at its proposed harness racing facility in Lawrence County.  All information received by the Board during these proceedings, either in oral or written form, will be included in the record upon which the Board will grant or deny a license.

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established in 2004 with the passage of Act 71, also known as the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. Pennsylvania's first new state agency in nearly 30 years, the Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state's casino industry. The 12 casinos in operation all offer both slot machine and table game gambling, employ over 16,000 people, and collectively generate an average of $4 million per day in tax revenue. A portion of that money is used for property tax reduction to all Pennsylvania homeowners; provide funds to the Commonwealth's horse racing industry, fire companies, a statewide water and sewer project grant program, and the state's General Fund; and, established a new stream of tax revenue to local governments that host casinos for community projects.

A wealth of information about the Gaming Control Board's regulatory efforts and Pennsylvania's gaming industry can be found at www.gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov. At this website, visitors can watch Board meetings live or view videos of past meetings, look up future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, obtain information on identifying a gambling problem and gaining assistance, access an interactive map of casino locations, request a speaker for their group, along with much more information.  You can also follow the agency on Twitter by choosing @PAGamingControl.

CONTACT: Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board